Sofa-bed.



C` L CONSER.

SOFA BED. APPLICATION man APR.17,19\4 l 9139 D Patented May 18, 1915. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 E ha 1 y Wing/Wai ja/@aww f fm/ di if/9a ,44613,

C, j. CUNSER.

SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED 111211.17, 1914` Patented M3518, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

C. J. CONSER.

SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 19m.

. fig f. Patented May 18 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, through folding to be converted? CARLES J. CONSER, 0F GHCGO, ILLIINOIS.

sore-BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1914. Serial No. 832,442.

To all whom t may concern:

` Be it known that I, CHARLES J. Consnm a v citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inA Sofa-Beds, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to a sofa bed that is to a device adapted for use either as a sofa or a bed, the same beinT adapted,

tom one to the, other. V i l The object of my invention is the pro-l duction of a sofa bed which will be of durable and economical construction, one which may be readily and easily converted from a sofa to a bed and vice-versa, and one which will be eiiicient and comfortable in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter, described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in 1which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of the device in bed form, the side members of the frame of the device being shown in section, Fig. 2 is a substantially central vertical section ofthe device in sofa form, the foldable sections of the device being shown unfolded into bed form indotted lines, Fig. 3 is a detail fragmental section .illustrating the pivotal connection of the bed bottom with the frame of the device, Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental detail illustrating the pivotal connectionV between the two outer sections of the bed bottom and the connec- Y tion of the intermediate or central bed secltion with the legs which support the outer end tl'iereef when in unfolded position, Fig.

5 is an enlarged detail section taken on substantially line .9c-m of Fig. l, F ig. 6 is a section. taken on substantially, line 1j-y of Fig. 2, Fig. 7 is a section taken on substantially 'line'e-z of Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a .front elevation of the outer section Vof the bed bottom, when the latter is in unfolded condition.

The` `preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a rigid frame consisting of end members l which are spaced apart and'rigidly, connected by transversely etending bars 2, E

and 4: Arranged in said frame between the end members l is a foldable bed bottom con sisting of sections 5, 6 and 7 lsubstantially rectangular in form, the adjacent ends of sections 5 and 6 being pivotally or foldably connected by comparatively short links 8, whereas the adjacent ends of sections 6 and 7 are correspondingly connected by comparatively short links 9.l The arrangement is such that said bed bottom'is adaptedto be folded together as shown in full lines in.

Fig. 2 or extended to form a bed bottom as shown in dotted lines in said figure. Said sections 5, 6 and 7 as well asthe connecting links 8 and 9 are of angleiron construction, the contiguous ends of said sec-v tionsand links overlapping, when the bed bottom is in extended condition, in order to produce a rigid construction, the arrangement, as is obvious, preventing upward breaking of the joints in the bed when the latter is extended.

vThe' links 8 are provided intermediate their ends with laterally projecting studs l0 which loosely engage upwardlyy opening sockets 11 provided at the inner sides of the' vrframe members l in order to pivotally support the bed bottom therebetween. Pivotally secured at 12 to the inner sides of frame members l above the sockets ll are keepers 13 which serve, when the lower ends thereof are in registration' with the upper ends of sockets l1, to lock the studs l0 in position in said sockets. By'swinging said keepers ,to effect non-registration of the lower ends thereof with said sockets, disengagement of said studs from said sockets ispermitted .in order to eilect detachment of the bed bot-v tom from the frame of the device if desired. l/Vith this arrangement it'will be seen that upon folding of the bed bottom from its extended to its collapsed or folded condition the forward end of the section 5 will be moved downwardly and forwardly, said end tension of said bed bottom, being moved -rcarwardly and upwardly. The vrearward rrearwardend of the segltion' in the movement of the latter during the folding or un folding of the bed bottom, as just described, will move parallel to itself, said Section berateatcu nay is, iets.

bottom,

10o4 of said section, during the unfolding or exf the 16, the lower end of said back member being.

free to swing forwardly and rearwardly. Arising from the rearward end of section 5 -are bars 17,'the upper ends of which slidably engage loops or eyes 18 arranged. at the rearward side of the back member 16 Iadjacent the lower edge thereof. -T he arrangement is such that, in the movementl of the bed section 5 as just described, the lower end of the back memberl will ybe simultaneously moved therewith, said end of said back member being swun forwardly in the forward movement of saitgl section and rearwardly during the rearward movement of said section. This is of advantage in that the section 5 may be moved rearwardl' so as to be flush with the rearward edges o the member 1 without the back member 16 interferin with the rearward end portion of the bed ottoni, when in use. Without this arrangement it is clear that the lower end of theback member 16 wouldassuine a position forward of the rearward end of the section 5 and thus would prevent the utilization of the rearward portion of said bed section as a bed bottom. Upon the member '17 are arranged forwardly extending angularly pieces or flanges 19 which serve as supports' for the inner end of .bars of said section 6 when the latter is in unfolded position. Said seat 2O is thus spaced from the bed bottom'so as to not interfere with sagging of the'bed bottom as is the case when the bed is in use. A rectangular exiblestrip 23 of fabric connects forward edge of seat 20 with Ithe upper edge of the bar 2 serving to close the gap which is formed between said edge of said seat and said hapY when thel device is used as a sofa. A

The outer end of the section 6, when the device is unfolded into bed form, is supported by legs 24. ,The upper ends of said legs 24 are pivotally connected by pivot pins 25 with thev depending portions'22 of the section 6, said pivot'pins projecting from said portions 22and loosely engaging with elongated slots26formed in the upper ends of legs 24 as clearly shownin Fig. 4. With this arrangement, when the device is unfolded, after the legs 24 contact with the floor or ground, the outer end of the section 6 will continue to move downwardly slightly, or a distance corresponding with line and full line positions as shown in 'forward' rocking 'of said legs.

the section 7 when the bed bottom is in folded condition. The bed section 6'carries a sofa seat mem- I the length of the slots 26. Projectin from the portions 22 are also studs 27' a apted, uponQ the relative downwardmovement of the outer end of the section 6, as just described, to engage recesses 28 provided in the u per ends of the legs 24 and thus serve to loc said legs in operativeposition. Said legs will, by'gravity, normally assume vertical positions, and during the foldin movement of the section 6, the pins 27 wild move automatically out of engagement with the recesses28 so as to permit of the 'rockin of said legs to the position shown in ful lines in Fig. 2. Said legs 24: are connected lby a bar 29 which secures simultaneous rocking of said legs, said bar 29falso serving'as a weight to insure rocking of the lower ends of ysaid legs to forward position so. that the slotted upper vends of said legs will be in alinement-with the studs 27 when the section `6 is in its unfolded position. The bar 29 against the adjacent edges of the a stop to limit the With the seen that engaging portions 22 also serves as construction set forth it wil the legs 24, during unfolding of the bed bot,

tom, will be automatically rocked to operaand automatically locked in this position, vand during folding of the bed tive position bottom, said le s will be automatically unlocked and fol ed to position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

The outer end of the section 'i is supported by legs 30 the upper ends of which are pivotally connected with pins k31 which project inwardly from the lateral portions of said section at the outer end of the latter. The pivot pins 31 engage elongated slots 32 provided in said legs which, asm the case of the legs 24, permit of ivotal and slight relative shifting of said egs during the folding and unfolding o eration of the bed bottom. A The upper en s of said legs are provided with upwardly projectingffin- 'i gers 3 3 adapted, upon rocking of the section Z to its unfolded or extended position, to engage withslots. 34 rovided in the inwardy,l turned anges of the opposite sides'of saidsection as clearly shown 1n Fig. 5.V The engagement of the fingers 33 with the slots 34 1s automatic, as will be understood, the outer end of the section 7 movlng down wardly relative to said legs 30 after thelatter have contacted with the ground or floor due to the elongated slots 32.

Stop members 35 are providedfor engage-v ment with the'legs 30 in order to limit the forward rocking thereof and insure the alinement of the fingers B3 of said legs'with the slots 34 during the unfoldin operation.

las

Said legs 30 are rigidly connecte by a cross bar 36 which secures simultaneous movement of said legs as will be understood. With this arrangement then it will be seen that in the unfolding movement of the bed i l the former on their pivots 37 vuntil seid position to the position sienes;

i?, the legs 30 will swing to operative und be' locked in this position, and upon folding movement of seid section, said loge will ybe eutoinaticelly unlocked and swung" to folded position es shown in full lines in 5?..

Aldivotelly secured et 37 upon the legs 30 are members for releasebly locking the sections d end J? together in folded relation. Esch seid fastening devices comprises e flexible strep 58 ot the outer endof which carried e perforated metallic :l strap or 'e titl, the perforations in the 'I members bein-g adopted to engage with laterally projecting studs i0 provided et opposite of the section 6 :is clearly shown in ller *onge-d et the inner sides of the freine members l. are springerins il secured. to seid members et ft2. The spring'arms di, when the bed bottom is folded together, are by lsterelly projecting studs 43 upon the section 7 being;n rocked downwardly' by Contact with seid studs to produce s condition of tension, the tension of seid spring arms tending to unfold the bed bottoni and to this extent facilitates the manuel unfolding of the bed bottom when the device is in use.

Frovided et tile outer side of the bar 36 connecting the legs 8O ere handles 43 which facili-tote folding or unfolding of the bed bottom and. provided at the inner edge of the seat'll, when the letter is in folded 'po sition is s. hand piece or strep le whichis also provided to facilitate the manual foldingor unfolding of the bed bottom.

With e, constructiones set forth it will bo seen that in the folding of the device from bedV forming condition to softs.y forining,y condition the section is first swung or folded to position over the section 6 as shown in dotted lin leasebl lool-z din this position by the memN bers E18-39 engaging with the studs d0. ln the interlocking of members 38v-39-with the studs d0, it is, of course, necessary to swing' inein-- bers extend letcrslly from the legs 30, where` upon the flexible strips 38 of said members will permit of the letter being swung down-v .vzudly to the desired engaging position. In

this folding of the section 7 the legs 3()` ruitersstir-,ellyI unlock themselves and rock to the folded position shown. Next the section together with the sectlon l are rocked or folded'to 'position above thesection 5 or the legs in this operation, being automatically unlocked and folded to the position sliownin full lines in seid figure. Dui ing the last folding operation the section N wed :forwardly snol downwardly and the *ont buck rnernber lli is simulte.neouslyl ro, wurdly to moet the rearward edge in Fig. 2, the seine being ref .resid section will when seid bed bottom isfolded, said' section will be moved forwardly; a sofa beck mem shown in full lines in' Fig. 2,

of the sent member 2O as shown. In the unfolding' of the device the process or procedure just described is simply reversed.

While l rhave illustrated end described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. l, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to eveil myselfnof such variations and modifications es come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Petentis:

l. line structure of the class described, the combination of e frame: a foldeble bed bottorn connected with seid frame so as to be adopted to be foldedr to position in said frame or unfolded to e position extending forwardly from-said freine, seid bed bottom consisting of s plurality of foldebly connected sections; e connection between the innermost of seid sections and seid frame whereby, 'when seid bed bottom is unfolded, seid section will be moved rearwardly and, when said bed bottom is folded, seid section will be moved forwardly; e sofa bock member mounted in said freine to permit of forward and rearward movement of the lower end thereof; and e connection between seid end of seid beck member and seid section of seid bed bottom whereby, seid parts will niove forwardly and rearwardly in unison, substantially as described.

2. ln e structure of the class described, the combination ofv afreine; e. foldeble bed bottom connected with seid freme'so es to be @dented to be folded to :position in seid fro'me or unfolded toA a position extending forwardly from seid drame, said bed bottom consisting of ai plurality of'foldebly con-v nected sections; e connection between the innerniost of seid sections and said freine whereby, when seid bed bottom is unfolded, be moved rearwardly sind,I

ber mounted in seid frame to permit of forward and rearward movement of the lower end thereof; and e connection between said end of seid back member and the rearward end of said section of seid bed bottom where by said parts will move forwardly end reorwardly in unison, substantially as described.

3. ln :i structure of the class described, the vcombination of e freine; e foldeble bed bottom connected with seid frame so as to be adapted to be folded to position in said freine or.` unfolded to e position extending forwardly from 'said freine, said bed bottom consisting' of e lplurality of foldebly connect-r ed sections; connection between the innermost of seid'-s'ecti-ons and seid frame whereby, when said bed bottom is unfolded, saidl be moved forwardly; a' sofa back member mounted in said frame to permitof forward and rearward movement of the lower end thereof; an arm arising from 'the rearward end of said section of said bed bottom; and a loop at the lower end of'said back member ^with which engages the upper end of said arm whereby said parts will move forwardly and rearwardly in'unison, substantially as described.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame; a foldable bed bottom comprising a section foldably connected with said frame whereby, when said section is moved to unfolded position, the same will be moved rearwardly and, when said section is moved to 4folded position, the same will be moved forwardly; a sofa back member mounted in said frame to permit of forward and rearward movement thereof; and a connection between said back member and said section whereby said parts will move forwardlynand rearwardly in unison, substantially as described.

5.71m a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame; a'foldable bed bottom connected with said frame so as to be adapted to be folded to position in said frameorunfolded to a position y extending forwardly from said frame, said-bed bottom consisting of a plurality of foldable connected sections; a connection between the innermost of said sections and said frame whereby, when said, bed bottom is unfolded, said.

CHARLES J. ooNsEn.

Witnesses: v

JOSHUA R. H. Por'rs, HELEN F. Lnims. 

